Integrated Community Case Management

Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) is a strategy to extend case management of childhood illness beyond health facilities so that more children have access to lifesaving treatments. The iCCM package can differ based on particular contexts, but most commonly include diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. Newborn health and malnutrition are also commonly included as a part of iCCM. In the iCCM model, community health workers are identified and trained in diagnosis and treatment of key childhood illnesses, and also in identifying children in need of immediate referral. The iCCM Task Force has identified eight important benchmark components of successful iCCM programs: coordination and policy setting; costing and financing; human resources; supply chain management; service delivery and referral; communications and social mobilization; supervision and performance quality assurance; and monitoring, evaluation and health information systems.

MCHIP’s Role on the iCCM Task Force
MCHIP provides technical leadership to the iCCM Task Force, which is a group of multilateral and bilateral agencies, academics, nongovernmental organizations, and foundations committed to advancing iCCM as an effective way to get lifesaving treatment to children who are most at risk. This collaboration provides an essential forum in which members coordinate advocacy efforts, share existing tools, develop common resources, and use a common organizing framework for CCM implementation. As the Secretariat, MCHIP provides the central management function, including membership management, leading advocacy and marketing efforts, tracking the Task Force workplan, managing the five technical sub-groups, overseeing resource dissemination, and ensuring general coordination. As part of the Secretariat function to the Task Force, MCHIP manages an online portal to centrally house iCCM resources. This portal highlights current events and hosts important iCCM tools, documents, meeting reports, and other materials. With more than 2,600 visitors in the last year, the website is increasing the visibility of iCCM and continues to facilitate the sharing of standardized resources and the latest information on iCCM to the global iCCM community. To expand accessibility of key CCM resources to individuals from French-speaking countries, some portions of the website content is available in French.

Key iCCM Activities
MCHIP has worked on iCCM in 11 countries. MCHIP has helped to introduce iCCM programs in four countries and supported the expansion of iCCM programs in seven countries. In addition, the Program has contributed to formal iCCM assessments and evaluations in four countries.